Research Groups

Welcome to the web page of the Biosensors and Biodevices research group at UNSW led by Professor Justin Gooding. We specialise in the molecule level modification of surfaces using self-assembled monolayers, biological molecules and nanomaterials to impart a desired functionality to that surface such as to:

• Selectively detect an analyte - biosensors,
• Allow efficient electrical communication with biological molecules - bioelectronics,
• To enable fundamental studies into electron transfer at surfaces - molecules electronics,
• Monitor biological processes - biomaterials and biosensors.

The research group has around 15 members working on a variety of research projects funded through the Australian Research Council Discovery, Linkage and Centre of Excellence programs as well as a variety of industrial sponsors. There are six main research projects in the group:

1. Immunosensors for pesticide detection in environmental analysis (with a US based biosensing company) (details...)
2. Understanding electron transfer through a new class of molecular wires (with Professor Michael Paddon-Row, Chemistry UNSW) (details...).
3. Modified silicon surfaces for controlling surface interactions with cells for biomaterials applications (with Dr Katharina Gaus, Medicine UNSW, Professor Mike Gal, Physics UNSW, Dr Jason Harper, Chemistry UNSW) (details...).
4. Nanoparticle based biosensors for labelling and detection for medical diagnostics (with Professor Rose Amal, Chemical Sciences and Engineering, UNSW) (details...).
5. DNA modified electrodes for detecting pathogens and drug compounds (with Dr Elicia Wong, Oxford University, Dr Wenrong Yang, Sydney University) (details...).
6. Carbon nanotube modified electrodes for catalysis and electroanalytical chemistry (with Prof. Barbara Messerle and Prof. Hibbert Chemistry UNSW) (details...).

These different projects are explained in more detail on the research pages.

We are always interested in potential new students. You can download our group profile here.

News

December 2007: A paper by Kris Kilian and Till Böcking recently published in ACS Nano 1 355-361 (2007) was the subject of a very positive perspectives article in the same issue by the guru in the field, Michael Sailor (see ACS Nano 1 248-252 (2007)). Justin also recorded a podcast related to this paper which is due out soon.

December 2007: Justin is awarded the 2007 Lloyd Smythe Medal (the RACI medal for Analytical Chemistry).

November 2007: Honours students Josh Ginges, Will Rousenel, Alex Dalgliesh and Zhi Jun Lim submit their honours theses.

November 2007: Zhi Jun Lim wins second place in the Materials Australia NSW branch honours presentation evening held at UTS on November 13th.

October 2007: Justin wins an ARC Linkage grant in collaboration with Rose Amal in Chemical Sciences and Engineering and Pam Russell in Medicine on magnetic nanoparticles for cancer treatments. He is also a chief investigator on a successful ARC LIEF bid for fluorescence microscopes.

September 2007: Paul Eggers flies to Hokkaido Japan to work with A/Prof. Shen Ye on the fabrication of single crystal gold.

July 2007: Caliie Fairman and Kate Odenthal spend a month conducting research with collaborators at ITODYS Laboratoire at Paris 7 University.